The Best Gardens of Great Britain

The Lost Gardens of Heligan

The British are known for their passion for gardening-whether they turn a small space in the front of their house into a pretty cottage garden or the create a grand parkland out of a vast wilderness. If you become an expat in Britain visit some of these well-known gardens for inspiration in designing your new garden!

1. Alnwick Castle Garden, Alnwick, Northumberland
   One of the biggest garden projects of modern times, just ten years ago this land was derelict. A unique feature of this garden is the encouragement to interact with it: touch the plants, walk across the grass, and play in the fountains!
2. Beth Chatto Garden, Colchester, Essex
   Once an overgrown wasteland with difficult gardening conditions, Beth Chatto decided to design gardens that worked with the conditions. Excellent example of ecological gardening.
3. Chatsworth Garden, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
   Gardens covering 105 acres, that have evolved over 450 years, including a large maze, famous gravity-fed waterworks and a gigantic rock garden.
4. Cragside Gardens, Rothbury, Northumberland
   One of Europe’s largest rock gardens, five lakes, and the tallest Douglas fir in England.
5. Chelsea Physic Garden, London
   Originally created in 1673 for the Society of Apothecaries, it remains a research garden that is open to the public on specific days.
6. Exbury Gardens, Hampshire
   World famous for it’s collection of Rhododendrons azaleas, camellias and rare trees and shrubs, with amazing spring and autumn colour.
7. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, St Austell, Cornwall
   Spectacular gardens for 400 years, then fell into decline and ruin when many of the gardeners never returned from WWI. Heligan is the largest garden restoration in Europe, and has become one of the most visited gardens in Britain.
8. Hepworth Sculpture Garden, St Ives, Cornwall
   The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden is a remarkable monument to the work of one of Britain’s most important twentieth century artists.
9. Hodnet Hall Gardens, Shropshire
   Beautiful Gardens frequently the subject of BBC programmes.
10. Inverewe Garden in the North West Highlands, Scotland
    Contains a world famous walled garden, as well as exotic species from around the world. Winner of a Green Tourism award.
11. Kiftsgate Court Gardens, Gloucestershire
    Very well planned contemporary gardens owned and managed by three generations of women in one family. Popular gardens that are well worth a visit.
12. Mount Ephraim Gardens, Kent
    Ten acres of gardens, including a Japanese Garden and an ancient labyrinth set in an 800-acre estate. Famous gardener Rosemary Verey remodeled the Victorian Kitchen Garden in the 1990’s.
13. National Botanic Gardens of Wales, Carmarthen, Wales
    A truly modern botanic garden, taking garden design and planning into the 21^st century. Excellent experience for the whole family.
14. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London
    Possibly the most famous gardens in the world and recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these gardens are home to the largest botanical collection of any garden as well as the largest reference collection.
15. Sissinghurst, Kent
    Beautiful, intimate gardens created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson amongst the ruins of a former Elizabethan mansion.
16. Royal Horticultural Society at Wisley, Surrey
    In 2009 Wisley was named ‘Attraction of the Year’ at the Tourism awards South East. As the flagship garden of the Royal Horticultural Society this garden is one of the most important gardens in the world.

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